Considering coming back =)Follow

No, it didn't. Player base is still strong.

I tried Vanguard and other than the deep and challenging crafting I found it to be very mediocre, nothing new at all. I was only planning to stick with Vanguard because it was included in Station Access. I really only play 2 of their games and I've been getting tired of letdown after letdown with EQ2 crafting. Now that SOE have decided to raise their Station Access subscription rate to $30.00, whereby playing 2 games saves you nothing, I cancelled my SA subscription and I'm moving on from SOE games for now.

I would be much more worried about losing people to Lord of the Rings Online. I'm in the beta, which is the most stable and polished beta I've ever been a part of (AC2, EQ2, WoW and Vanguard). The game looks better than Vanguard on a much more reasonable system. The classes and game mechanics are innovative, and it's fun. Crafting isn't as deep as Vanguard's, it's on par with EQ2's current system - there's no crafting minigame, it's one click and watch a bar like WoW, but the harvesting and levelling system is richer. At the level where you can equip it, crafted gear is the best in the game. Also, it's not an item-centric game which is something new and interesting to me. I worried about it being too directed, with required storyline quests, but once you're past the newbie experience it's as open and free roaming as any MMO. You can progress the story at your leisure.

Plus it's only $9.99 a month or $200.00 forever if you pre-order. That clinced it for me. Maybe I'll be seeing some of you in the LOtRO forums here and/or in the game. :)

<Edit> Is it just me or does LOtRO have the WORST print advertising campaign ever? A mob of obviously basement dwelling geeks. Way to maximize the potential of a sure-fire license, Turbine...

Edited, Mar 19th 2007 9:50am by Lydiaele